| MOTHER / DAUGHTER STORIES |
Submitted by our readers...
Throughout our previous two issues, we invited our readers to send us their best mother/daughter story for the opportunity to have their story printed in our May/June issue for Mother's Day. A special thank you to everyone who submitted your favorite stories! We enjoyed reading all of the serious and humorous memories you share with each other and had a difficult time selecting only five winners (please read the shortened versions below). Congratulations to those who won, and for all of the mothers reading, Happy Mother's Day!
Live in the Moment
Submitted by Patti F.I booked our flight to New York, thinking about how much my daughter and I were looking forward to our trip to celebrate Ali's 21st birthday. I wanted it to be spectacular, a lasting memory for both of us: two distinct personalities, two perspectives and two definitions of spectacular.
My daughter insisted on a "no agenda" weekend, a universe away from my comfort zone. We arrived in New Yory with NO commitments. NO Broadway tickets, NO dinner reservations and NO spa appointments. Our agenda was to "do what we wanted to when we wanted to." My comfort zone was being redefined as I experienced New York through my daughter's eyes.
That's My Mom
Submitted by Sharon M.
Not yet divorced at 18, I gave birth to my daughter. From the moment she was born she brightened my world. We basically grew up together. I loved baby cereal too, so often we shared her breakfast, and we took turns riding her Big Wheel. To this day, we shared a beautiful, honest and loving relationship and sense of humor that creates times of uncontrolled laughter and unforgettable experiences.
Chaos is now part of her daily routine, having a husband, four beautiful children and a 6-month-old puppy. Many times she phones me just to vent. One time, she told me about the repercussions from her twin boys who got into something they weren't supposed to. Their inquisitiveness, much like their Nonnie's, reminded my daughter of one of our experiences when she picked me up in her candy apple red Firebird to embark on a mother/daughter shopping day.
Not yet divorced at 18, I gave birth to my daughter. From the moment she was born she brightened my world. We basically grew up together. I loved baby cereal too, so often we shared her breakfast, and we took turns riding her Big Wheel. To this day, we shared a beautiful, honest and loving relationship and sense of humor that creates times of uncontrolled laughter and unforgettable experiences.
Chaos is now part of her daily routine, having a husband, four beautiful children and a 6-month-old puppy. Many times she phones me just to vent. One time, she told me about the repercussions from her twin boys who got into something they weren't supposed to. Their inquisitiveness, much like their Nonnie's, reminded my daughter of one of our experiences when she picked me up in her candy apple red Firebird to embark on a mother/daughter shopping day.
My Mom is a Hero
Submitted by Lauren Z.
It was a rainy summer afternoon at our lake house, and outside tree branches were dancing in the wind. My mom was fixing lunch when our 9-year-old neighbor came knocking on the door. "Hi, can Kurt play?" he asked. I didn't see my little brother, so I went to look for him. "Kurt!" I called out. No answer. I tried again. Still no answer.
I told my neighbor to stop by later, and I went to look for my brother. As he made his way down our deck stairs, something caught his eye. My brother was floating face down in the lake, wedged between our boats. He screamed.
It was a rainy summer afternoon at our lake house, and outside tree branches were dancing in the wind. My mom was fixing lunch when our 9-year-old neighbor came knocking on the door. "Hi, can Kurt play?" he asked. I didn't see my little brother, so I went to look for him. "Kurt!" I called out. No answer. I tried again. Still no answer.
I told my neighbor to stop by later, and I went to look for my brother. As he made his way down our deck stairs, something caught his eye. My brother was floating face down in the lake, wedged between our boats. He screamed.
Tubing at 88
Submitted by Gayle F.
My mother-in-law, Marge, loved boating with us on Geneva Lake. She had one good eye, was deaf, wore false teeth and suffered with arthritis, congestive heart failure and Paget's disease, but she was always the life of any party.
One summer day eight years ago, several family members took tubes, skis and floaties to the lake and Marge joined the fun, sporting her umbrella hat and cooler of snacks. She agreed to try tubing and proceeded to remove her hearing aids. After struggling to fit into a life jacket, she fell into our large inflatable tube with her daughter.
My mother-in-law, Marge, loved boating with us on Geneva Lake. She had one good eye, was deaf, wore false teeth and suffered with arthritis, congestive heart failure and Paget's disease, but she was always the life of any party.
One summer day eight years ago, several family members took tubes, skis and floaties to the lake and Marge joined the fun, sporting her umbrella hat and cooler of snacks. She agreed to try tubing and proceeded to remove her hearing aids. After struggling to fit into a life jacket, she fell into our large inflatable tube with her daughter.
A Blossoming Relationship
Submitted by Jenny D.
The relationship I have with my daughter is a gift that's blossomed over time. Being a divorced mom and working three jobs to make ends meet made it difficult for me to be there for her. In order to be closer to my family and find a better job, I took her from her Dad, school and friends to move to Illinois. I did what I felt I had to do. Sometimes we went for months without speaking. She hated me for taking away all that was dear to her.
She married at a young age, sometimes I think to get away from me. Years went by, and we finally realized we needed each other. That's when our relationship started to blossom. She matured into a beautiful, understanding mother and daughter and has apologized for giving me such a hard time over the years. She now has three beautiful children and a wonderful husband, who have worked hard over the past 17 years to have the close, loving family she didn't have with us.
The relationship I have with my daughter is a gift that's blossomed over time. Being a divorced mom and working three jobs to make ends meet made it difficult for me to be there for her. In order to be closer to my family and find a better job, I took her from her Dad, school and friends to move to Illinois. I did what I felt I had to do. Sometimes we went for months without speaking. She hated me for taking away all that was dear to her.
She married at a young age, sometimes I think to get away from me. Years went by, and we finally realized we needed each other. That's when our relationship started to blossom. She matured into a beautiful, understanding mother and daughter and has apologized for giving me such a hard time over the years. She now has three beautiful children and a wonderful husband, who have worked hard over the past 17 years to have the close, loving family she didn't have with us.